PHILADELPHIA, PA — Darnell Jackson, also known as “Major Change,” a 52-year-old from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for orchestrating a murder-for-hire plot and possessing ammunition as a convicted felon. The sentence, delivered by United States District Judge Nitza I. Quiñones Alejandro, also includes three years of supervised release.
Jackson’s conviction stems from a state drug trafficking investigation that revealed his attempt to arrange the killing of another individual. On July 19, 2021, and in the days that followed, Jackson used text messages and phone calls to communicate with an individual about the plan. Evidence presented at trial showed that he sent a photo of the intended victim and offered $5,000 for the murder. The defendant and the individual allegedly agreed that the killing would occur on the evening of July 21, 2021.
That evening, the individual falsely reported to Jackson that the intended victim had been killed. Jackson responded by informing the individual that he would meet him to pay for the crime. Shortly after this conversation, law enforcement stopped Jackson near 65th Street and Guyer Avenue in Southwest Philadelphia. During the stop, authorities discovered a Glock-style “ghost gun” loaded with 16 rounds of live ammunition in his vehicle, leading to his immediate arrest and federal complaint.
U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero underscored the seriousness of the crime. “If you’re willing to casually order a hit — if you have so little respect for human life — you forfeit your right to walk around free with everyone else,” said Romero. “Darnell Jackson has proven he’s a dangerous man, and this sentence holds him accountable. My office, the FBI, and the Philadelphia Police Department will continue to identify, arrest, and prosecute our city’s most violent offenders.”
Wayne A. Jacobs, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Philadelphia, commended the efforts of law enforcement in thwarting the plan. “By orchestrating this egregious plot, Jackson underestimated both the capability of law enforcement to uncover his actions and our unwavering commitment to protecting citizens from violence,” said Jacobs. “The FBI, in close partnership with the Philadelphia Police Department and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, remains steadfast in our mission to keep our communities safe.”
This case was the result of a collaborative investigation by the FBI and the Philadelphia Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney Justin Ashenfelter led the prosecution.
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